Please note that following the decisions taken
at the council assembly meeting on 20 May 2023, this committee is
now decommissioned. To view information relating to the current
planning committees, please refer to: Committee
structure - Southwark Council.
Role and functions of planning committee
- To
comment on local development framework documents in respect of all
significant planning matters and make recommendations to the
cabinet.
- To
consider the future process by which the decisions with respect to
planning applications are to be taken.
-
To consider and determine all the following
applications:
o
strategic and major planning applications (as
defined in the matters reserved to the committee)
o
designation of conservation areas including the
adoption of conservation area character appraisals and detailed
design guidance
o
any other planning responsibilities of the authority created by
statute (and delegated to the committee).
- It
is the responsibility of the planning committee to consider
strategic planning applications and to establish planning
sub-committees to consider applications and other matters reserved
as defined in the constitution.
- Where appropriate to hear and consider the case for the
applicant either by way of written or oral representation and
consider objections and representations to the application from
authorised persons and interested parties or their designated
representatives.
- To
consider expenditure of section 106 monies.
- To
comment on national and regional consultation documents proposing
significant changes to strategic planning policies and make
recommendations to the cabinet.
Matters
reserved for decision by the planning committee
- Consideration of the following categories of planning
applications (including listed building consent, conservation area
consent and advertising consent), where
the development proposed involves the creation of 50 or more
housing units or more than 3,500m2 of commercial floor space or a
mixed use development with more than 3,500m2 of floor space,
including applications for change of use, or the application is
clearly linked to another application which is to be considered by
the planning committee:
a.
those which are significantly contrary to the provisions of the local
development framework approved by the council for the purpose of
development control, and which are recommended for
approval.
b.
those which are controversial, i.e. subject to 5 or
more relevant objections (a “relevant objection” is
defined as any objection except an objection which clearly does not
raise any material planning considerations) or raise a major issue
of a planning nature except:
i.
where in the opinion of the appropriate chief
officer the objection can be overcome by the imposition of an
appropriate condition, or
ii.
where the application clearly complies with the
relevant planning policies, in which case the decision may be taken
by officers, or
iii.
where the application is a straightforward refusal.
c.
those requested by two councillors to be determined by elected
members, subject to the request being agreed by the chair of the
planning committee in consultation with the appropriate chief
officer.
d.
applications
for the council’s own developments which are
controversial, i.e. subject to 5 or more relevant objections (a
“relevant objection” is defined as any objection except
an objection which clearly does not raise any material planning
considerations).
e.
those involving legal agreements, other than those in accordance with
policy requirements, e.g. affordable housing, highway improvements,
environmental work and other works required as part of a
development proposal.
- To
consider the expenditure of funds over £100,000 of strategic
importance secured through legal agreements under section 106 of
the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, or any previous
legislation.
- The designation of conservation areas including the adoption of
conservation area character appraisals and detailed design
guidance, and authorisations under article 4 of the Town and
Country Planning Permitted Development Order 1995.
- To
consider and determine all planning applications of strategic
importance in the borough, including:
a.
applications which require referral to the Mayor of
London
b.
applications which are required to be notified to
the Secretary of State as departures from the development plan
document (including the unitary development plan)
c.
applications where the submission of an
environmental impact assessment is required by regulation or
following a screening application
d.
applications for the development of metropolitan
open land
e.
applications for the development of contaminated
land
f.
specific
applications not covered by the above but determined
as strategic by the appropriate chief officer.
- To
comment on drafts of the local development framework during their
consultation periods and make recommendations to the cabinet, as
appropriate.
- To
comment on draft supplementary planning documents during their
consultation periods and make recommendations to the cabinet, as
appropriate.
- To
report to the cabinet on matters relating to the implementation of
planning policy.
- To
comment on national and regional consultation documents proposing
significant changes to strategic planning policies (e.g. London
Plan, Cross River Tram) and make recommendations on the
council’s response to the cabinet, as
appropriate.
- To
consider planning enforcement cases where the appropriate chief
officer decides that the matter is of a strategic or controversial
nature and should be referred to the committee to consider and
determine the taking of enforcement steps.
Planning committee
meetings take place in the council offices at 160 Tooley Street,
London SE1 2QH unless indicated otherwise.